Gillispie Out As Kentucky Coach

March 27, 2009 in Sports,UK with 7 Comments

Rumors have been flying all day (week…month…year…whatever) about the status of UK’s head basketball coach.

Kentucky.com is reporting at this hour (as is ESPN and a number of other sources) that Gillispie is out as Kentucky coach. There will be a press conference at 4:30pm today to announce the news. What will be most frustrating to fans, especially after all the rumors about Donovan being in town, is “They are not planning immediately to announce the hiring of a new coach.” I don’t want a repeat of two years ago with the transition…

Will Meeks stay? Will Patterson stay? Can they land Donovan while he has a window in his contract? Will they look to Travis Ford? Can they bring Pitino back? How will the $6 million dollar buyout of Gillispie’s contract be handled by the students and staff of a school short on funding? Oh, the questions…

I particularly like this article from Mark Story that discusses the situation: Gillispie situation not about winning at all costs.

Oh, the drama! KY Secretary of State Trey Grayson had this to say on Twitter early today: “We may need a stimulus package for KY if no Billy G announcement is made shortly. I can’t imagine much productive work is taking place.”

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About Chris: Thirty-something, knowledge seeking, information devouring, Christian technophile living in Northern KY seeking to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with my God.


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7 Responses to “Gillispie Out As Kentucky Coach”

  1. David March 27, 2009 at 15:35 #

    Apparently BillyG asked WKYT for time for a press conference tomorrow at 11:00. Plus there is a lot of buzz saying a plane from Florida (ST. Augustine BillyD’s home) landed at Bluegrass airport today at 1:50. Lots of talk going on, just hope they get a good hire that can take us back to the top of the SEC year in and year out as well as longer runs in the NCAA.

  2. Jez March 27, 2009 at 20:06 #

    Where to start…they read the memorandum of understanding (since he didn’t have a contract) on tv today, and it sounds to me like he won’t get bought out for however many years. The memorandum was based on the fact that a contract would be signed in the future (UK was pretty smart putting that in there). Since he never signed one, it’s basically a year to year deal. Here’s a link to the memorandum…notice the second to last paragraph:

    http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2007/11/15/15/Gillispie-Memo_of_Understanding_4-6-07.source.prod_affiliate.79.pdf

    As far as coaches, I’d really like to see Pitino back. Bring back the prodigal son!! But I think that it will be Travis Ford.

  3. Jez March 30, 2009 at 13:12 #

    Hmm…looking like it’s gonna be John Calipari.

  4. Jez March 30, 2009 at 14:42 #

    Also rumored that he’ll be signing John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, with the possibility of Xavier Henry asking to be released from his letter of intent to follow Calipari to UK.

  5. Chris March 30, 2009 at 15:20 #

    Yep, that’s what I’m hearing, that UK has asked for and received permission to talk to Calipari (official), a $4-$4.5 million per year contract with $6 in incentives has been offered (unofficial), Calipari has turned down a counter offer by Memphis and has resigned (unofficial) and that Wall and Cousins are coming with him (unofficial). I’m not going to believe any of this until it’s official, though (remember, as of last Friday, Donovan was our coach according to the rumors.)

    How nice would that be, though – an instant top recruiting class and Final Four potential. PItino is probably sweating his ol’ nemesis being in his state and theartening his recruiting ability…

  6. Jez March 30, 2009 at 18:14 #

    Yeah, I also heard that he two current players from Memphis are going to transfer with him as well. Talk about an instant upgrade. If everything plays out as it sounds, this is the best thing to happen to UK basketball in a LOOOOONG time!!

    Here’s the “at least 2 players” article:

    http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=10096463&nav=EQlr

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